Accident at Big Walker 5/25

[XCanytime]

On Saturday May 25th I headed down to Big Walker after getting off of work at 1P. Got to the launch at 6:45P to find 5 pilots, 3 of which were set up and one was soaring about 1K' over out front. I proceeded to help an inexperienced pilot launch at 7P. His launch went good, and he flew out of the slot on the DTs. The air was still sporty at the time. He kicked into his harness and went semi-prone with his hands still on the DTs. The glider flew to the left with the nose still pointed away from the mountain. Then the right wing got lifted and he got turned towards the mountain. The glider rolled out of the 270 degree turn low over the trees and heading back towards the slot. I knew he was in trouble and a tree impact was imminent. The glider clipped one tree outboard of the slot and then flew thru another tree at the edge of the slot. The glider got turned 180 degrees and fell flat 40' to the ground right in front of me at the edge of the slot. The pilot let out 3 moans from under the sail and I immediately dialed 911 and told them we had a badly injured pilot who needed immediate help. The other 3 pilots attended to the pilot while I drove out to where the access road to launch met the paved road at the mountain peak in order to vector in the police and EMTs. It took 15 minutes before a local police officer arrived and 30 minutes for the EMTs to arrive. The pilot was taken to a hospital in Wytheville, VA with a C7 fracture and a torn left bicep. He was then medevaced to Roanoke hospital at 3 in the morning. I visited with him the next morning just after 8A where he was facing another day of imaging to determine whether surgery would be necessary on the C7 fracture. I wished him well and headed up 81 to get to Woodstock, where I caught up with Jon at the bridge field and took the grass devil picture that was posted on the Woodstock thread. Bacil

[Ashley Groves]

Sorry to hear the news and I wish the pilot well.
Thank You Basil for being there to help.

[XCanytime]

I am happy to report that the pilot did not need surgery and is resting comfortably at his parents' house. He will be in a neck brace for a while and a full recovery is expected. He may or may not have a torn bicep. He wants to fly again. Witnessing an event like that can shake you up pretty good and it did me. Bacil

[Roger]

I'm sorry you saw that Bacil. I witnessed something similar at Moore Mt many years ago.
It discouraged me and put safety on my mind. Thoughts of quitting the sport are usually frequent for me. Always have been.
Last year at the rally I missed the last day to attend my daughters recital. I drove Alex Cuddy to his uncle's home in Jacksonville. He decided abruptly from the top of the start gaggle that he could never be number 1 at hang gliding (wrongly). He looped twice, spun it and landed safely. Retiring from comps. All that to say, when he told me that, I told him I was jealous.

[Danny Brotto]

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2013/0 ... reaks.html

Glad that Bill will be okay (although over the years, this stuff wears the rest of us down.)

Danny Brotto